"It happed just before 2 a.m. Saturday when it was very dark," said Burse. "The teen was driving very fast without any lights when he almost rammed a Montgomery County squad car patrolling the area. The deputy turned on his emergency lights and gave pursuit."

But the teen refused to pull over his Honda 2007 four-wheeler, Burse said. So a chase ensued for about 10 minutes until the teen lost control on a curve, jumped a curb and crashed into the brick concrete culvert.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and district attorney's office will look into the deputy's handling of the incident, officials said. Sheriff's spokesman Brady Fitzgerald declined comment.

The boy's family could not be reached for comment.

On high alert

Deputies had been in the neighborhood doing extra patrols because that same subdivision had been struck the previous weekend by four teens who committed a spree of automobile break-ins, stealing everything from computers to guns, authorities said.

Burse said investigators saw no obvious signs of the youth being under the influence of any drugs or alcohol, but they are waiting for an autopsy Monday to determine whether any drugs or alcohol contributed to the death.